I break the ice
So they don't see my size
And I have to be nice
Or I'll be the next punchline

I'm just the best friend in Hollywood movies
Who only exist to continue the story
The girl gets the guy while I'm standing off-screen
So I'll wait for my cue to be comedic relief

Can't be too loud
Can't be too busy
If I don't answer now, are they still gonna need me?
Can't be too proud
Can't think I'm pretty
Do they keep me around, so their flaws just seem silly?

I say I'm okay
'Cause they wouldn't care anyway
And I could try to explain
But my effort's in vain
They can't relate to how I've

Drawn out in Sharpie where I take the scissors
If that's what it took for me to look in the mirror
I've done every diet to make me look thinner
So why do I still feel so goddamn inferior?

Can't be too loud
And can't be too busy
If I don't answer now, are they still gonna need me?
Can't be too proud and
Can't think I'm pretty
Do they keep me around, so their flaws just seem silly?

Life of the fat, funny, friend
Life of the fat, funny, friend

It's funny when I think a guy likes me
And it's funny when I'm the one who says, "Let's go to eat"
It's funny when I'm asked to go out on Halloween
Dresses and thigh highs, while I hide my body

Can't be too loud
And can't be too busy
If I don't answer now, are they still gonna miss me?

Can't be too loud
And can't be too busy
If I don't answer now, are they still gonna need me?
Can't be too proud and
Can't think I'm pretty
Do they keep me around, so their flaws just seem silly?

Life of the fat, funny, friend
Life of the fat, funny, friend
Life of the fat, funny, friend
Life of the fat, funny, friend

I've drawn out in Sharpie where I take the scissors

Overall Meaning

Maddie Zahm's song "Fat Funny Friend" presents a poignant portrayal of the struggles faced by someone who is overweight and is constantly relegated to the role of a sidekick. The first verse shows how the singer tries to break the ice to make sure people don't see her size, and she has to be nice because she fears being the next punchline. In the next lines, she expresses how her character mirrors the role of best friends in movies – someone who only exists to continue the story, while the singer gets the guy, and she waits for her cue to provide comedic relief.

The second verse shows the inner struggles of the singer, how she constantly strives to look thinner to gain acceptance and reduce her sense of inferiority. She has done every diet to make herself look thinner, but even then, she feels like a misfit. The repetition of the line "Can't be too loud and can't be too busy if I don't answer now, are they still gonna need me?" indicates how she is always trying to fit in, avoid being ignored or forgotten, and is afraid of not being sought after. The line "Do they keep me around so their flaws just seem silly?" is particularly poignant and shows how people sometimes keep around those who they feel surpass in flaws and inadequacies, which help them feel good about themselves.

The chorus of the song, "Life of the fat, funny, friend," repeats several times, emphasizing how the singer often feels stereotyped and pigeonholed. The song ends with the line "I've drawn out in Sharpie where I take the scissors," which shows how the singer has reached her breaking point, and the only way to make a change is to cut all previous perceptions and make a new start.

Line by Line Meaning

I break the ice
I initiate conversation first to divert attention away from my weight

So they don't see my size
I try to avoid people noticing my body weight and shape

And I have to be nice
I have to be kind to people, else they will make me a punchline

Or I'll be the next punchline
I am afraid of being ridiculed or made fun of in public for being overweight

I'm just the best friend in Hollywood movies
I am relegated to the role of the overweight best friend in movies

Who only exist to continue the story
I only exist in the plot to make the lead actress look better

The girl gets the guy while I'm standing off-screen
The singer gets the love interest while I am relegated to being the background character

So I'll wait for my cue to be comedic relief
I wait for my opportunity to make a funny comment to draw attention away from my weight

Can't be too loud
I try to be as unobtrusive as possible to avoid drawing attention to myself

Can't be too busy
I have to be available and make myself useful to be accepted by society

If I don't answer now, are they still gonna need me?
I worry that if I am not needed or useful, people will forget about me

Can't be too proud
I cannot have a sense of self-worth or confidence, as I am constantly made to feel inferior

Can't think I'm pretty
I cannot think of myself as attractive or beautiful due to societal pressure and constant criticism of my body

Do they keep me around, so their flaws just seem silly?
I wonder if people only keep me around to feel better about themselves or appear more attractive by comparison

I say I'm okay
I pretend to be alright and happy, even though I am struggling emotionally

'Cause they wouldn't care anyway
I don't believe that people would truly care about my problems or feelings

And I could try to explain
I could try to express my thoughts and feelings, but it seems pointless

But my effort's in vain
My attempts to express myself are often met with ridicule or dismissal

They can't relate to how I've
Most people cannot understand what it's like to struggle with weight and body image issues

Drawn out in Sharpie where I take the scissors
I have marked my body with Sharpie to identify where I want to cut or modify my appearance

If that's what it took for me to look in the mirror
I have to resort to drastic measures to look at myself in the mirror and confront my body image issues

I've done every diet to make me look thinner
I have tried countless diets and weight loss plans to try and make myself look more socially acceptable

So why do I still feel so goddamn inferior?
Despite my efforts, I still feel inadequate and unworthy due to societal standards of beauty

It's funny when I think a guy likes me
I find it ironic that someone could look past my weight and find me attractive

And it's funny when I'm the one who says, "Let's go to eat"
I feel like a walking contradiction when I suggest going out to eat while also struggling with my weight

It's funny when I'm asked to go out on Halloween
I find it humorous that people would even consider inviting me to social events, such as Halloween parties

Dresses and thigh highs, while I hide my body
I feel pressured to dress up for social events, even though I prefer to hide my body and shrink into the background

If I don't answer now, are they still gonna miss me?
I question my value and worth in the lives of others, wondering if they would even notice if I disappeared

Life of the fat, funny, friend
I am trapped in a cycle of being the comic relief and emotional punching bag due to my weight

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Catie Turner, Madeleine Marie Zahm Zahm

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind